Mozambique - Technical Advisory Mission

Mozambique is exposed to weather-related hazards such as floods, droughts, and storms, which include tropical cyclones. As much as 25% of the population is at risk from natural hazards. The National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) and UNDP Mozambique requested UN-SPIDER to carry out a Technical Advisory Mission from 8 to 12 October 2012. The key objectives of the mission were to assess national capacity and to evaluate existing disaster and risk reduction activities, policies and plans with regard to the use of space-based technologies and to facilitate access of national institutions to space-based information to support tasks contemplated in the full cycle of disaster management.

Dates:

Mon, 08/10/2012 to Fri, 12/10/2012

Host Institution:

Mozambique National Institute of Disaster Management (INGC) and UNDP Mozambique

Mission Profile:

Meetings were held with key stakeholders within the government, associated departments/ agencies, and UN offices. In total, twelve different institutions were interviewed as part of a needs assessment process. The results of these meetings were augmented with information gained through a one day workshop organized by UN-SPIDER, INGC, and UNDP on 10 October 2012. The workshop brought together more than 45 representatives from various government/ United Nations and academic entities to discuss cross cutting issues related to use of geographic and space-based information for disaster risk reduction and emergencyresponse.

Mission Findings:

The Mission Team observed the following:

Disaster Management Plan and Contingency Plans are in place providing an opportunity for using geospatial information

Coordination mechanism for disaster management is available (CTGC) which brings in different ministries/departments working with geospatial information

A simulation exercise carried out annually provides an opportunity for the integration of geospatial products including satellite images

Establishment of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure should be taken up on top priority to ensure optimisation of use of existing resources. To share international NSDI best practices is seen as an important cornerstone to further build on

Effort to have in place professional body bringing together geospatial experts

Data status and availability

Creation and implementation of infrastructure for data sharing should be a top-priority for governmental institutions. NSDI should cover a road map for data creation, data management, metadata, standardization and quality

Data creation needs to be streamlined to generate up-to-date geospatial information based on existing mandates of various organisations

Data management needs to be reframed to provide uniform access to all humanitarian and developmental organisations. Metadata should be considered as an important component of the data management

Awareness of the use of open-source software and open data should be strengthened

Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

Enable stakeholders of INGC (members of CTGC) with on-the-job-training to impart specific skills

Train-the-trainer in specific domains of risk, hazard and vulnerability mapping (Develop national capacity to generate critical mass of trained personnel)

A Disaster Management Information System is needed to ensure integration of all information and providing meaningful inputs for decision making

Ensure access by INGC to mechanisms that make space-based information available during emergencyresponse: such as the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, SERVIR and GEO-EMS are the key mechanisms that need to be used effectively during emergencies